PALO ALTO, Calif., May 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) today announced a new release of the company's Velocity oncology software platform. The updated software offers clinicians a set of new tools that facilitates the use of diverse types of images and automates time consuming image processing procedures that are fundamental to treating cancer with advanced image-guided radiotherapy or radiosurgery.

Velocity software is designed to access and aggregate unstructured treatment and imaging data from diverse systems to show a comprehensive view of a patient's diagnostic imaging and treatment history, regardless of where they were treated or what technology was used. The software enables health care professionals to use oncology patient images and data to plan and assess treatments, collaborate with colleagues, and share clinical knowledge. By organizing patient data and making it available in one place, the Velocity software can help clinicians make more informed treatment decisions.

This latest Velocity software release adds a number of new tools that make it easier to combine images, calculate the probable impact of different doses of radiation on tumors and normal tissues, automate several complex image handling processes, and use the program to communicate and collaborate with colleagues.

Varian acquired the Velocity software platform from a privately-held Atlanta firm last month.

"We're very pleased with how the integration process is going, and looking forward to sharing this latest Velocity release with Varian customers and others interested in our growing collection of tools for data-driven clinical decision making," said Tim Fox, associate vice president, imaging informatics at Varian. "The Velocity software product will be among the products highlighted within the Varian booth at the upcoming annual meetings of the American Association of Medical Dosimetrists (AAMD) and the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) later this year."

About Varian Medical Systems Varian Medical Systems, Inc., of Palo Alto, California, is the world's leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions with radiotherapy, radiosurgery, and brachytherapy. The company supplies informatics software for managing comprehensive cancer clinics, radiotherapy centers and medical oncology practices. Varian is a premier supplier of tubes, digital detectors, and image processing workstations for X-ray imaging in medical, scientific, and industrial applications and also supplies high-energy X-ray devices for cargo screening and non-destructive testing applications. Varian Medical Systems employs approximately 6,500 people who are located at manufacturing sites in North America, Europe, and China and approximately 70 sales and support offices around the world. For more information, visit http://www.varian.com or follow us on Twitter.